THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE
THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE. Yesterday.. It’s 2022, FFS.
This has also been mirrored in the modelling industry with Olivia Anakwe, who states, “Black models are still asking for just one hairstylist on every team no matter where your team is from to care for afro hair. I was asked to get out of an empty chair followed by having hairstylists blatantly turning their backs to me when I would walk up to them, to get my hair done. If I am asked to wear my natural hair to a show, the team should prepare the style just as they practice the look and demo for non-afro hair. I arrived backstage where they planned to do cornrows, but not one person on the team knew how to do them without admitting so. After one lady attempted and pulled my edges relentlessly, I stood up to find a model who could possibly do it. After asking two models and then the lead/only nail stylist, she was then taken away from her job to do my hair. This is not okay. This will never be okay. This needs to change. No matter how small your team is, make sure you have one person that is competent at doing afro texture hair care OR just hire a black hairstylist!”
We have asked around and these are a couple of comments from people within the industry:
“This is very true. The problem is that in most places those who have a passion for natural hair and textured hair are not afforded the same opportunities to reach celebrity status clients. I have had so many clients ask me why I am not promoting myself to help high profile clients. However, like any respectable client, celebrity or not, no one wants someone they don’t know. Or the stylist is not in the proper circles to expand their client base.”
“I was in a union job and most stylists did not have the education about black hair care or makeup. I had actors asking me, did I do makeup? And how they did not, and would not, sit in any other stylist’s chair. We need more platforms to enforce more training in the Industry.”
THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE. Yesterday.. It's 2022, FFS.
July 2022
THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE
THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE. Yesterday.. It’s 2022, FFS.
This has also been mirrored in the modelling industry with Olivia Anakwe, who states, “Black models are still asking for just one hairstylist on every team no matter where your team is from to care for afro hair. I was asked to get out of an empty chair followed by having hairstylists blatantly turning their backs to me when I would walk up to them, to get my hair done. If I am asked to wear my natural hair to a show, the team should prepare the style just as they practice the look and demo for non-afro hair. I arrived backstage where they planned to do cornrows, but not one person on the team knew how to do them without admitting so. After one lady attempted and pulled my edges relentlessly, I stood up to find a model who could possibly do it. After asking two models and then the lead/only nail stylist, she was then taken away from her job to do my hair. This is not okay. This will never be okay. This needs to change. No matter how small your team is, make sure you have one person that is competent at doing afro texture hair care OR just hire a black hairstylist!”
We have asked around and these are a couple of comments from people within the industry:
“This is very true. The problem is that in most places those who have a passion for natural hair and textured hair are not afforded the same opportunities to reach celebrity status clients. I have had so many clients ask me why I am not promoting myself to help high profile clients. However, like any respectable client, celebrity or not, no one wants someone they don’t know. Or the stylist is not in the proper circles to expand their client base.”
“I was in a union job and most stylists did not have the education about black hair care or makeup. I had actors asking me, did I do makeup? And how they did not, and would not, sit in any other stylist’s chair. We need more platforms to enforce more training in the Industry.”
THIS NEEDS TO CHANGE. Yesterday.. It's 2022, FFS.